More than 800 people have been arrested for participating in demonstrations across Sudan since last month, according to a government official.
It is the first time the government has provided numbers on people arrested since demonstrations started December 19th. Protests were sparked by an increase in bread prices, in villages and quickly spreading to the capital, Khartoum.
Two weeks ago, Amnesty International estimated a death toll of 37 during demonstrations. Government officials say that 118 buildings have been destroyed in the protests, including many that belonged to the president’s political party and 18 that belonged to the police.
On Sunday, several faculty members of Khartoum University were arrested for joining the protest. Doctors, teachers and engineers have joined the demonstrations in the past weeks. Authorities have shut down schools and social media sites, declared a curfew and a state of emergency after protests first broke out. Security forces have repeatedly used tear gas, stun grenades and live ammunition against demonstrations.
The demonstrators are calling for President Omar al-Bashir, who has ruled the country since 1989 to be removed from office.
Photo: “Main Post Office” by David Stanley is licensed under CC BY 2.0
ANARCHIMEDIA 